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Experience Exchange
“Distancing Desires”
The Daoist Way to Longevity
by Neil Kingham
“Relish oblivion and obscurity, think less, have little
desire and practice economy of speech in order to
nourish the Qi.” – Li Dong Yuan (translation by Bob
Flaws)
This quote is from a short chapter in a book by Li Dong
Yuan (1180-1251 CE), an influential figure in the
development of Chinese Medicine. The book is the Pi
Wei Lun which is quite a technical medical text, aimed
mainly at Chinese herbalists. Yet in among the detailed
descriptions of herbal formulas and the discussion of the
finer points of the working of Qi in the body, Li thinks it
important to have a chapter entitled ‘distancing desires.’
Li Dong Yuan (1180-1251 CE)
Li is expressing Daoist thought – the importance of
being calm and ‘going with the flow’ in order to
maintain health and vitality. According to Li, not
following this philosophy will lead to degeneration of
the body and mind.
In my opinion, Li is emphasizing the importance of calm
and withdrawal, the yin qualities of life. These days
we’re all so busy. We have so much to do and so little
time. We do what we need to for our work and our
families but have little time left over for ourselves. Put
simply, we are stressed and overworked! No wonder
then that most people feel tired all the time, and suffer
from a variety of ongoing ailments and ‘niggles’.
Li says “when I respond or attend to human affairs, all
my symptoms of disease get worse.” This says to me that
the problem is giving out too much energy, being too
involved in external affairs. This could mean too much
emotional involvement, too much mental involvement or
simply doing too much physically.
In the terms of Chinese medicine, over-activity depletes
the Qi and Blood, leading the way for various health
issues. In the long term, burning the candle at both ends
46 Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) Volume 2, Issue No. 1